Xero Accounting Solution Reviews

“billing and bank feeds shine”

Pros

Day to day tasks like billing, bank feeds, automated reminders and customizable invoices help move everything along faster. The dashboard also gives a clear view of what's been paid already, what's still pending and what's overdue.

Cons

Reporting still feels a bit limited compared to what we'd ideally need especially when it comes to more telecom-specific metrics.

“statements and recurring invoices shine”

Pros

Compared to how we used to make statements in Google, the way statements and repeating invoices are set up here is much easier and more convenient.

Cons

One downside is how many extra apps are needed to get the full functionality our company actually needs. Since we are not an e-commerce business, a lot of those apps are not useful for us and some of the add-ons are simply too expensive to justify.

“customization and support win”

Pros

There are tons of editing and customization options and the features are very user friendly. The Zoom training sessions and one-on-one support are also available at about half the cost of QBO.

Cons

At this point I honestly cannot think of any downsides. I really wanted to come up with a reason not to switch but it's been a no-brainer.

“Simple accounting with handy sync”

Pros

The software is very user friendly and simple even for someone without an accounting background. It's simple to work with and can connect with other tools, including project management software which makes it even more useful.

Cons

It isn't as competitively priced as some similar accounting platforms. There can also be occasional integration problems when connecting it with other software systems.

“integration issues ...”

Pros

It works well for small businesses and the system is easy to use from pretty much any device. The interface is also modern and the reporting features are really good too. I just wish it offered a bit more functionality overall.

Cons

The trouble starts if you need to manage sales orders because it only lets you create quotes and then invoices so extra software is required for anything beyond that. That leads to a lot of integration problems. On top of that support is lacking from both sides as the other provider points the finger at the tool and the software blames the third-party supplier. It becomes a complete minefield.

“custom reports and better value”

Pros

Coming from accounting software like QuickBooks, switching over to Xero is fairly stress free. The platform is user friendly and I really like how customizable the reports are for different business needs. Setting up contacts, products and services and the chart of accounts is also simple. The import and export tools work well especially when creating a new account or transferring data from one file to another. On top of that the pricing is lower and feels much more reasonable than QuickBooks.

Cons

One thing I would really like to see improved is the customization for invoice, quote and PO templates. It would also help a lot if attachments could be sent with POs since we need to include art files with ours. Another frustration is that the APPROVE button for POs sits at the bottom instead of the top like it does on invoices. Because of that placement, I have accidentally sent POs marked as DRAFT more than once.

“clear interface and fast reconciliations”

Pros

Being able to customize the system to match exactly how our team works has been a big advantage. The interface is clean, clearly organized and simple to follow and the direct bank account connection makes reconciliations quick and simple. It also took very little training to get everyone comfortable with the basic day to day tasks.

Cons

Nothing worth mentioning here. Everyone on the team is very happy with the system and feels completely comfortable using it.

“user friendly layout and payroll updates”

Pros

Navigating the platform is very easy and the overall layout is user friendly and simple to follow. I also appreciate that the payroll system gets updated regularly to stay in line with new legislation.

Cons

It does require a certain level of bookkeeping knowledge. I work alongside a bookkeeper and there are still some tasks I cannot manage properly without her help.

“handy mobile app for travel”

Pros

The mobile app works really well and fits perfectly with a job that involves a lot of travel and heavy work demands.

Cons

The web version is harder to use, with a longer click path and too many fields that have to be filled in.

“reliable features and support”

Pros

This product is easy to use and it includes all the tools needed to run a small business effectively. The platform keeps improving with regular feature updates and there's also a dedicated helpline available whenever assistance is needed.

Cons

We haven't run into any real problems although support response times could be faster when dealing with more complex issues.

“user friendly setup and fast help”

Pros

Xero is easy to use and the whole platform feels really user friendly. It didn't take long to learn and using it day to day is simple. Another big plus is the help forum as whenever I have run into a problem, I have been able to find answers and get it sorted out very quickly.

Cons

The one thing that lets it down for me is how outdated the back end looks. It could really use a refresh to make everything feel more modern and accessible especially in the invoicing settings. More options for custom invoice templates, colours and similar design features would be a really welcome improvement.

“Simple tool to use”

Pros

The interface is very user friendly. Reconciling accounts is also easy and entering employee information is also simple and quick.

Cons

The pricing structure based on the number of users isn't ideal for a small business. It would be much better to have more pricing tiers between the current options. The reconcile automation can also be frustrating at times.

“bank sync needs work”

Pros

At this point I cannot really say much yet since my accountant recommended it and someone else has been handling the bookkeeping. I also haven't had a lot of business activity over the past year so I don't have much hands-on experience with it.

Cons

One thing I am not happy about is that bank statements cannot be synced automatically every month. For some reason, that's something my accountant needs.

“clean dashboard, limited tracking”

Pros

The web interface is clean and the dashboard can be customized which makes day to day use more convenient. It's simple to locate entries, make bulk adjustments and handle bank feeds and reconciliations without much hassle.

Cons

The downside is that there's no option to use labels and the tracking categories are fairly limited. It also doesn't connect with invoicing systems like ipp.gov and there's no way to create a travel expense report based on labels.

“simple to setup”

Pros

It seems very user friendly and getting around it was uncomplicated from the start. It was a really great program to begin with especially when learning the basics.

Cons

something that bothered me was the limited support. It has improved over the years but there's still no phone number to call or option to book an appointment. On top of that the pricing keeps going up quite a bit and they don't seem to care whether you've been a long-time customer or not. They'll still raise the cost which is ultimately why I decided to leave.

“Not the best!”

Pros

Despite looking pretty old-school, it still handles the core accounting tasks it's meant to do. I definitely have plenty I could say to the development team about the UI and UX but at the end of the day it does cover the basic needs.

Cons

The constant USD labels all over the place are really frustrating. I am not sure whether it is mainly designed for the US market or if this is just some default setting issue but seeing USD everywhere is honestly pretty irritating.

“helpful transaction tracking”

Pros

Keeping an eye on business transactions is really easy now and the data makes it much easier to plan ahead with confidence.

Cons

Getting used to the app took some time at first and the learning curve wasn't very enjoyable though I feel much more comfortable with it now after learning more.

“perfect fit for small business”

Pros

I find this software pretty easy to use. Plus the interface is user friendly, it was quick to learn and the integrations with Gusto and Harvest are exactly what I needed.

Cons

It matches the needs of my small business really well and the pricing feels fair. The only thing I'd still like to see is more integrations with other software although I am sure that will improve over time.

“quick setup and handy integrations”

Pros

It is easy to use and the setup didn't take much effort. It connects really well with other platforms, keeps track of GST for BAS and makes invoice creation very simple.

Cons

Let me tell you that the cost does add up over time and customer support feels lacking. It would also be better if they paid more attention to user feedback and added features people actually need.

“user friendly invoicing and reconciliation”

Pros

Xero has been really helpful for simplifying invoicing and bank reconciliation. Entering invoices and exporting them both seem very user friendly and simple.

Cons

The reporting side of it seems a bit limited and it can take quite a while to drill down and locate exactly the information you're looking for.